The Monthly Blog Planning Calendar (Free Printable PDF!)

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As much as I love blogging, the internet, and my laptop, my life isn’t entirely digital or extraordinarily high tech. I still keep notes in notebooks, and my cell phone is barely one rung up the evolutionary tech ladder from a carrier pigeon.

One of the “old school” techniques that I often use is the monthly blog planning calendar that I print out and keep next to the chair that I work in. I recently added a couple more “features” to it and figured it was a great time to share it with my Blogging Bookshelf readers.

I use it to keep track of what I’m posting and when, plus a few other things. Yes, I know there are WordPress plugins and fancy cell phone apps that you can use to be “more productive” (I always just end up wasting more time playing with these things) and have all this info stored, but the below calendar is an option for those like me who are blissfully stuck in the stone age.

The monthly blog planning calendar is a 2 page PDF file. The first page has some instructions; the second is the calendar itself. Here’s a screenshot of the two pages:

You can also use this is a quick and dirty journal to record what blogging-related tasks you did on any given day.

[Both of the below links are to the PDF version of the calendar. Right click to save it to your computer.]

59 Comments

I have been using different types of calendars myself, but I always seem to end up with a calendar on paper. I have tested a wordpress plugin called Editorial Calendar, and I have been using BusyCal for Mac. That’s the two I have been using the longest.

I also have a white board in my office, but since I can’t keep my kids out, they keep on drawing on it and erasing my plans.

I’ll definitively download your calendar and test it, seems to be exactly what I need. Thanks a lot for sharing. Do you keep the calendar at home, or do you take it with you when you are somewhere else (or do you just take notes and then add new things to the calendar once you get back home)?

“I also have a white board in my office, but since I can’t keep my kids out, they keep on drawing on it and erasing my plans.”

That made me smile, Jens :)

I leave the calendar at home when I go out and add things to it as necessary when I come back home.

I tried Editorial Calendar for a little bit but didn’t like that I had to have my computer on to see what posts were coming up. Sometimes I like to just sit in my chair and make an outline for a post in a notebook, and it’s really nice to see what my posts are without having to be online, you know?

I didn’t really answer my own questions in the post, so I might as well comment…

I plan 2 or 3 weeks ahead. My plan is very flexible, though. If I think of something that I really want to write about, I’ll change the plan up a bit so I can slip that new post in.

I really need to get better at writing my blog posts ahead of time. I always write them the night before I publish them. With this post, for example, I finished writing it at 9pm and the post was published at midnight. I just work better at night.

In general, I’m more of an old school planner. I don’t like being connected all the time; I think having a smart phone would drive me crazy because there would be no escape from this blog! I like being able to turn off my computer and the phone and be completely disconnected.

It’s good to have an old-school approach sometimes. I use notebooks too sometimes for work and note down ideas, even if I admit I don’t really plan posts, I kinda go with the flow lately, so to say. However I agree that sometimes it’s just good to have something printed out rather than reading it from a computer screen.

The main reason I like having something printed out is that I can just turn my head and look at it at a glance. I don’t need to log in to anything, don’t need to open up any new windows, and don’t need to have the computer on.

I liked this one. Reminded me a little of…me. I am also a non-techie techie. For nearly a year the only “app” I had on my iPhone was one that made fart noises. (a truly essential app) I write my notes longhand, I do my daily plans long hand (weekly and monthly are done on computer)

I think that sometimes having too much them online as the things that can distract you. it seems like your calander would be a nice addition to my routine

That’s a brilliant idea.
What i dream of doing (once i have the time to move my fat ass from this chair) is placing a board on the wall, like the one they have in detective movies :).
Right now i just have a great deal of paper lying around the house, not knowing what i wrote where.

OK, first off, how does one gain access to the HTML code of a Facebook business page to edit it? Nice page BTW.
• How far ahead do you plan your blog posts?
I’m still playing with this. I’m trying to plan out a month at a time, but life is difficult to script so if my posts have anything to do with current events, I must allow some flexibility.

• Do you ever deviate from your plan?
Unfortunately; yes. Things often pop up that seem like they should be covered now instead of next month sometime.

• How far ahead do you write your blog posts?
I’ve been trying to keep posts written up a couple of weeks in advance. For February I had the whole month done up ahead so I could focus on writing my book.

• What system do you use to plan your posts?
System? What’s a system? OK, I’m kidding… my “system” for the past few months has been pretty loose, basically just write about what seems relevant at the time depending on which niche I’m writing for. I’m trying to map out a new system (and your planning calendar will be very helpful as I’ve already messed up and tossed out several store bought calendars) where I will post to each blog every third day. Depending on which day of the week that post falls on, it will be a different type of post. For example, Share the Love Sundays will be when I write about (promote) someone else in my niche, Tricks & Tips Tuesdays will be when I discuss some handy hint about that niche. On the Prattle, Farm Report Fridays will cover what I’m doing with gardening. Because of the every third day rotation not every Friday will have a farm report. Each day has its own topic, and I end up with 2 or 3 posts per week to write. I’m hoping this will provide some variety for my readers as well as myself, and help me with selecting topics to write about so I don’t get into a rut.

• In general, are you more of a tech planner (apps, Google Calendar, etc.) or an old school planner (notebook, pencil and paper, etc.)?
Paper and pencil for sure. Which is odd since I’m a geek at heart with 4 computers to play with. I even figured out how to put my Sunday School class lesson plan on my Kindle. Put I like to be able to spread the blog plan pages out and see them all at once. Your blog planning kit has been very helpful, and this new calendar will be too. Calendars on computers are so limited in what they display as an overview.

Allan, you saw the link that I posted on my Facebook wall about creating a Facebook page. A few things have changed since the new Facebook pages but it’s mostly the same stuff. Let me know if you have any questions and I’d be glad to help you out.

Whoah, you’re working on writing a book?? Awesome! What kind of book is it? What’s it about?

That’s pretty good that you usually write your posts two weeks in advance! I really need to get on the ball and try that more.

How many blogs are you running these days, Allan? I know a couple months ago you had something along the lines of a million. Are you still rocking them all?

I kind of like your system of rotating every few days with what you write about on your blogs. I’ll be interested in hearing how that goes in the long term.

And yeah, there’s just something very unfulfilling about looking at a calendar on the screen…

I really like the simplicity of your calendar. Have printed it out and set it up for March. Now to fill it in.

* How far ahead do you plan your blog posts?
Every so often I’ll plan out months in advance but most times no more than a month.

* Do you ever deviate from your plan?
Umm yes all the time!

* How far ahead do you write your blog posts?
It depends. The most I have ever done was a few weeks due to vacation. I really need to do this more.

* What system do you use to plan your posts?
I need a system. Right now I’m all over the place and mostly just get a blog post started in draft and finish posts the day of or night before.

* In general, are you more of a tech planner (apps, Google Calendar, etc.) or an old school planner (notebook, pencil and paper, etc.)?
Both. I really like Evernote to capture ideas for blog posts. I have Evernote on my iPhone, iPad and computer and it syns across the three.

Very cool Tristan. I’m typically about 2-4 weeks ahead with my content, meaning I have that many posts written. I find that I’ll have bursts where I’ll create a number of videos and posts, however I don’t want to swamp people so I space them out, usually :)

As for planning I don’t do too much of that, but to see all my future posts on a calendar I use the WordPress Editorial Calendar plugin. That way I can drag and drop posts around, which comes in handy if I need to take advantage of something recent and move other content into the future.

Tristan: Another great post. Most of the guys/gals I work with, though they use smartphones and computers, still are “old school” too! They like using notepads, pencils etc. So this is a good reminder that it is still ok! I too use a notepad for all my meetings. As techie as I am, I have a hard time taking notes on my computer when I’m on a call. I also use Whiteboards too!

I’ve got a couple whiteboards that I use in spurts. Some weeks I use my whiteboard religiously and it really helps. But then there will be a period of 2 or 3 weeks when I don’t even touch the thing. I’m trying to make it a habit, though!

I normally use my good old blackberry calender, though blog planning (I do it 1 week or so in advance of agenda, backlinks and posts) I use a BIG calender and scribble all over it, colour coded and everything :p

I do plan topics in advance, but as for writing my posts, I tackle them one at a time. I do schedule them ahead of time, but at the most by 12 hours. Not too much though, because Lord knows I will go in and change something before it goes live!!

And whew, it’s good to hear that there’s someone else who doesn’t write posts a month in advance! I usually finish writing mine right before they’re published, or I set them to be published a few hours after I finish them.

hi! I usually use my cellphone’s calendar to list my topics to write and to schedule when to publish them. I normally wite about 3 or 4 articles on my day off, and publish them one at a time in a span of one week. Once again a great article!

I am using Editorial Calendar to write down ideas for future posts. I also try to keep notes on stuff like this but I am type of person that will write down a list of things to do and never look back at the paper :)

I like scheduling posts cause I am relaxed then. When I was leaving for vacation I wrote 4 posts in advance and it was the coolest thing ever :) I hate when it is 1 AM and I have to write something for 7 AM, cause I wanna keep my plan and promise going!

Thanks for the blogging calendar, Tristan. I like to unplug and plan the old- fashioned way too. I seem to be able to think ahead better with pen and paper.

Umm, I admit I don’t really plan my blog posts out very far in advance because I’m constantly getting new ideas triggered by something someone else said in their blog posts or on a forum which leads me to post other than what I had originally intended to post.

I guess I’m just an awful planner, because I don’t keep a blogging calendar. I just know I’m going to post an article every 3 days. Rarely ever do I have articles saved (like Robert) for future posts. So I guess what I’m saying is that if I have an emergency or some type of major distraction, my blog is in big trouble! :-)

Thanks for the awesome freebie, Tristan! I agree with “fart app” Steve (hope for his sake the name doesn’t stick) … I get far more distracted and preoccupied trying to keep track of my digital information, notes, etc. The good old notebook and day planner are my staples.

Tristan,
Everyone seems to want to do everything via technology these days and there is something to be said for doing things old school. I still keep a calendar on my wall and I have an address book (an actual book!).

I find that sometimes technology gets in the way and I am sick of logging into 6 different sites to figure out what the hell I have to do today…

Having a monthly blog planning calendar is a great idea. Thanks for sharing the PDF of the actual monthly blog planning calendar that you use. I will try putting this calendar into use in the month of March and see how it well it works for me. Thanks again for sharing Tristan, much appreciated.

Old habits die hard, hey Tristan. I’m with you on using old fashioned pen and paper instead of apps! My planning is often done on the back of envelopes or some other piece of paper I find, just so I can write it down and get it out of my head. Even if it just a title to prompt my ideas, I write it down anywhere and then eventually type into my blog as a draft post.
Your calender looks much more efficient!

This works for me at present, as am spending more time offline while working on my print book offline.

Thanks for sharing this new blog planning idea – practical and applicable as always!
Mon

I’m the same way, Mon! Lots of ideas and plans get written on little pieces of paper that I might or might not end up losing… I also have been known to write post ideas on the back of my hand when there’s no paper around.

My blog posts are planned and written two weeks in advance. I keep the plan flexible because, well, life happens. I don’t deviate from this but I may shuffle posts around and in niche markets I’ll try to keep a spot open for hot or trending topics to capitalize on search juice.

I TRY to keep similar topics bound together by time frame and I’m a paper and pen guy. My best writing comes through actually writing – not typing – and then typing it up. It’s redundant but the thoughts flow better this way.

Two weeks in advance, eh? Man, that’s pretty good, Jon! I wish I were better at that.

That’s really interesting that you write your best when you actually write it out first before typing it. That’s definitely not the case with me. I spend so much time rearranging, deleting, and adding stuff to my posts that writing it out would just do nothing but eat up my time.

Mavis, I think giving yourself the flexibility to post whatever you want (like you said, to talk about events, contests, news, etc.) is really important. So good on you there. I think a lot of people miss out on capitalizing on those events. Readers love them!

Let me know how the calendar works out for you. Thanks so much for commenting!

[…] divider, I placed Monthly Blog Planning Calendar pages for the next year. I downloaded mine from BloggingBookshelf.com. They are set up in landscape and have space for weekly & monthly goals, plus an area for […]